Refrigerator lid for produce cases



Jan. 10, 1939. w. J. REICHLE REFRIGERATOR LID FOR PRODUCE CASES Filed 001;. '7, 1936 mmw mmmmmm mmw wmmmmm mmM mmmmmm wmmwmmmmm Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerator lids for produce containers of the type wherein the lid is provided with a compartment for solid carbon dioxide or a like refrigerant medium.

Lids of this general type as heretofore constructed, if efficient to carry out the intended function, were generally more or less complicated in construction and design and cumbersome to handle. Numerous lids of more simple'construc- 10 tion and design have been proposed, but while simplicity was attained, certain desirable advantages were sacrificed. Since a lid for each individual container is generally used, and since there are alarge number of produce boxes or con- 15 tainers pressed into service during warm weather,

it is highly desirable that the lids be interchangeable and extremely simple in construction and design and occupy as small a space as possible in the interior of the container.

20 An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a lid of the type specified which is extraordinarily simple in construction and low in cost of manufacture and yet at the same time is highly efficient in carrying out its intended function.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dry ice compartment assembly which may be easily applied to the ordinary type of produce box lid without altering the latter or the box and which is light, compact and durable.

Another object is to provide a lid of the type specified which is interchangeable with respect to the conventional produce box or container and which may be easily and quickly loaded with a refrigerant.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a substantiallycentral sectional view taken longitudinally of a produce box lid and box and having a dry ice container embodying the features of the present invention applied to the underside of the lid.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the lid.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the lid; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but taken at right angles thereto.

Referring to the drawing in detafl, a conventional type of produce box or container is generally indicated at 5. Resting on top of the box is a lid 6 which may be the usual type of lid used for such boxes, the 'dry ice container being secured to the underside of the lid. The lid 6 is preferably'made up of plywood to give lightness in weight and at the same time provide sufllcient strength. L V a The dry ice container proper comprises an upper insulating strip or plate I whichis preferably formed of wood composition, a pair of parallel side frame members 8 and 8a, a bottom plate 9, which is preferably of galvanized sheet metal, and aforaminous guard plate ill, the latter being spaced from the bottom sheet 9 as at I l and havinglz. plurality of air-circulating holes therein as at To assemble the parts, the side members 8 and 8a together with the insulating strip or plate I may be secured to the bottom of the lid 6 by means of screws l3 or the like, the sheet metal bottom plate 9 being connected to the side members by nails or the like as at M, and the guard plate or member then secured to the said side members 8 and So by means of screws l5 or the like with a pair of cleats l6 interposed between the said plate Ill and bottom sheet 9 to provide the air space or chamber ll. The opposite sides of the ice compartment H are open as at l8 to provide a convenient loading arrangement, the upper side edges of the container 5 substantially closing these spaces when the lid is applied, note Fig. 4. To prevent the dry ice from coming into contact with the side walls of the container and to also strengthen the bottom sheet or plate 9, its free edges are doubled back as at I9, note particularly Fig. 3. The bottom of the lid is shown provided with centering and retaining notches 20 which receive projections formed on the top of the box as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In operation, the dry ice is preferably wrapped in several thicknesses of paper and placed in the compartment ll through either one of the side openings l8. Due to the low temperature of the dry ice, the sheet metal bottom plate 9 takes on a coating of frost and presents a large cooling surface just above the produce. The guard plate l0 prevents the product from touching the sheet metal and freezing, and the holes I2. in this contact plate permit the circulation of cold air given off by the refrigerant.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a dry ice container is provided which may be applied to the conventional lid for the regular produce delivery boxes without any alterations in the latter or in the boxes. The container is simple in construction and economical in manufacture, while at the same time it has the inherent characteristics which tend towards efllciency' in the more expensive and complicated type crating produce carriers or lids. 7

It will be understood that certain minor changes in construction and design may be adopt-. ed within the scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claimr v 1. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes having a refrigerant compartment on the inner side thereof which is of generally rectangular formation, said compartment being formed by opposed sid frame members, a top insulating plate, a bottom plate of sheet metal and a foraminous guard plate which is spaced from said bottom plate, the remaining two sides of the compartment being open to facilitate loading and adapt ed to be closed by the adjacent side edges of the box when the lid is in use.

2. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes having a refrigerant compartment on the inner side thereof formed by side frame members, a top plate of insulating material, a bottom plate of sheet metal which is attached to the side frame members, and a foraminous guard plate spaced from. and also secured to said side frame members, at least one side of the compartment being open to facilitate loading, said open side being closed by the adjacent side of the produce box.

.3. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes comprising a lid proper having spaced side frame members secured to the underside thereof and defining two-sides of a dry ice compartment, a sheet metal plate secured to said frame members and forming the bottom of said compartv ment, and a foraminous'guard plate also secured to said frame members below and in spaced relation with respect to said bottom plate, at least one of the remaining sides of the compartment being open to facilitate loading of the compartment. I I 4. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes comprising a lid 1 proper having a substantially flat undersidelan insulating plate secured to said latter side and forming the top of a dry ice compartment, 2. pair of substantially parallel side frame members at opposite ends of said plate of refrlgment.

arcane providing two closed sides of said compartment, a bottom plate secured to-said frame pieces and forming the bottom of said compartment, and a foraminous guard plate also secured to said frame members below and in spaced relation with respect to said bottom plate, the remaining sides of the compartment being open to facilitate loading of the compartment and being substantially closed by the side edges of the box when the lid is in applied position.

5. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes comprising a substantially rectangular lid proper having a flat underside, a strip of insulating material secured to said latter side and forming the top of a dry ice compartment, a pair of substantially parallel side frame members also secured to the lid at opposite ends of said strip and forming two closed sides of the compartment, a bottom plate of sheet metal secured to said side frame members, a foraminous guard plate also secured to said side frame members below and in spaced relation with respect to said bottom plate, the remaining two sides of the compartment being open to facilitate loading of the compartment and being closed by the adjacent side edges of the box when the lid is in applied position, the free edge portions of the bottom plate at the open sides of the compartment being doubled back to provide stops for the refrigerant and strengthen the said latter plate.

6. A refrigerator lid for produce boxes comprising a lid proper having spaced side frame members on the underside thereof defining opposed sides of a dry ice compartment, a plate of sheet metal or analogous relatively thin material capable of providing a limited heat exchange between the refrigerant andthe material to be refrigerated secured tosaid frame members and formlng' the bottom of said compartment, and aforamlnous guard plate carried by said frame members below and in spaced relation with respect to said bottom plate, at least one of the remaining sides of the compartment being open to facilitate loading of the. compart WILLIAM JOSEPH REICHLE. 

